Public Document Pack - blackpool.gov.uk

1 Public Document Pack11 January 2022 SCHOOLS forum Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at am MS Teams Meeting A G E N D A 1 WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND APOLOGIES 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state: (1) the type of interest concerned either a (a) personal interest (b) prejudicial interest (c) disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) and (2) the nature of the interest concerned If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting. 3 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING (Pages 1 -12) To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2021 as an accurate record. To consider any matters arising, not discussed elsewhere on the Agenda.

2 4 LOCAL AUTHORITY AND INCLUSION UPDATE (Pages 13 -18) To receive an overview of recent developments within the local authority for information. 5 DEDICATED SCHOOLS GRANT BUDGET MONITORING 2021-2022 (Pages 19 -22) To consider the budget position and Dedicated Schools Grant reserves of the 2021-22 Dedicated Schools Grant as at 30 November 2021. 6 HIGH NEEDS UPDATE (Pages 23 -30) To consider the latest developments relevant to the High Needs budget. 7 EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES FUNDING (Pages 31 -34) To consider the background information on exceptional circumstances funding for mainstream schools and discuss the proposals for changes to the scheme. 8 DRAFT DEDICATED SCHOOLS GRANT BUDGET 2022-2023 (Pages 35 -40) To discuss the provisional estimates for the use of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) in 2022/23.

3 9 SCHOOLS FUNDING FORMULA 2022-2023 PROPOSALS (Pages 41 -48) To consider the local authority s proposal for the schools funding formula for 2022/23 10 DE-DELEGATION OF SERVICES AND RETENTION OF FUNDING FOR EDUCATION FUNCTIONS 2022-2023 (Pages 49 -54) Approval is sought for the de-delegation of services and the retention of funding for Education Functions. 11 COVID FUNDING UPDATE (Pages 55 -58) To receive an update regarding financial support provided in the education sector during the COVID outbreak for information. 12 DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING To note the date of the next meeting as Tuesday 15 March 2022. 13 GLOSSARY (Pages 59 -60) A glossary of acronyms is included for information. Other information: For queries regarding this agenda please contact Danielle Bowater, Democratic Governance Adviser, Tel: 01253 477202, e-mail Copies of the agendas and minutes of the Schools forum are available on the Council s website at This page is intentionally left blankMEETING TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2021 Maintained Primary School Head Teachers/Representative Mr M McIver, St George s/ aines Endowed ( idari) ght Futures) Councillor J Hobson, Cabinet Member for Children s Social are and Schools School Improvement and SEND Mrs H Wood, Head of Business Support and Resources Mr A Kowzan, Education and Skills Funding Agency (Observer) Mrs D Bowater, Democratic Governance Adviser (minutes) APOLOGIES Hilary Wood welcomed attendees to the meeting prior to the election of the Chair at item 2.

4 New attendees including Councillor Jim Hobson (Cabinet Member for hildren s Social are and Schools), !brar Hussain (Highfield and Star !cademies), Victoria O Farrell (Education Diversity) and Emma Valentine (School Funding Officer) were welcomed to the meeting. It was noted that an observer from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, Alekander Kowzan, was in attendance at the meeting. Public Document PackPage 1 Agenda Item 3 MINUTES OF SCHOOLS forum -Present: Ms H Moreton, Holy Family Primary Governor Ms M Lonicon, Our Lady Special School Academy Representative Ms G Hughes, Park (Sea View) Academy / Free School Representatives Mr G Dow, Anchorsolme (Sea View) Mr S Eccles, St Mary s ( E M!T) Mr R Farley, Westminster (FCAT) (Chair) Ms T Harrison, Thames / Roseacre (AtC) Mr A Hussain, Highfield (Star Academies) Mr E Vitalis, South Shore / Marton (BriPupil Referral Unit Ms V O Farrell, Educational Diversity Post-16 Ms J Gray, Blackpool Sixth Form Non-Schools Members Mr N Adams, UNISON Ms A Baines, Staff/Teacher Associations In Attendance: Mr D Maddocks, Senior Accountant Mr P Turner, Assistant Director Ms E Valentine, School Funding Officer 1 WELCOME, INTRODUCTIONS AND Gent (Director of hildren s Services) and Mark Golden (Finance Manager).)

5 2 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST There were no declarations of interest noted at the meeting. 3 ELECTION OF CHAIR Resolved: The forum elected Roger Farley (Westminster (FCAT) Academy School 4 ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR Resolved: 5 POWERS RESPONSIBILITIES AND GOOD PRACTICE OF SCHOOLS FORUMS (Matt McIver and Jill Gray arrived during this item) of an effective relationship between the Schools forum and the local authority. provision. MINUTES OF SCHOOLS forum MEETING -TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2021 Apologies for absence were received from Elaine Allen (St John Vianney), Neill Oldham (Highfurlong), Rachel Dey (Early Years), Angela Wellings (Interim Head of SEND), Victoria The forum considered the election of a Chairman of the Schools forum until August 2022. Representative) as Chairman of the Schools forum until August 2022. Having been elected, Roger Farley took the role of Chair from this point of the meeting. The forum considered the election of a Vice Chairman of the Schools forum until August 2022.

6 The forum elected Edward Vitalis (South Shore / Marton (Bright Futures) Academy School Representative) as Vice Chairman of the Schools forum until August 2022. Hilary Wood, Head of Business Support and Resources presented the report to remind members of the powers and responsibilities of Schools Forums. Members were requested to note the powers and responsibilities of a Schools forum and to consider the characteristics The main powers and responsibilities outlined by the Department for Education included aspects that Schools forum must be consulted on and those that they are able to decide on. It was recognised that Schools forum were consulted on changes to the Schools Formula, the minimum funding guarantee in schools formula, changes to the early years formula, and financial arrangements for pupils with SEND, in Alternative Provision and for Early Years It was further reported that Schools forum must decide on financial movements from the Schools Block to other blocks up to , on central spend and criteria for pupil growth and falling rolls, on other central spend, on de-delegation and education functions (maintained schools only), on the Scheme for Financing Schools (maintained schools only)

7 And on the Page 2 MINUTES OF SCHOOLS forum MEETING -TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2021 Election of chair and voting procedures. It was noted that the Operational and Good Practice Guidance outlined some features that local authorities and Schools Forums should consider to make Schools Forums as effective as possible. The characteristics of effective relationships included challenge and scrutiny, partnership, effective support, openness, responsiveness and a strategic view. It was recognised that the relationship between the local authority and Schools forum had to be a partnership and provide effective support as well as presenting challenge and scrutiny. It was suggested that holding meetings virtually was less conducive to promoting discussion and debate than in-person meetings were.

8 Questions and comments were welcomed. One member asked whether the Schools forum were fulfilling the duties as required if the group were to be self-assessed and queried whether there was enough challenge. In response, Hilary Wood confirmed that the Schools forum were undertaking their role as required but more discussion would be welcomed and suggested that face-to-face meetings might promote this. Paul Turner commented that the emphasis should be placed on the whole budget and the impact decisions have on the budget as a whole. It was illustrated that where there was a deficit on the High Needs block, this would affect all of the school budgets as a collective. He urged members to acknowledge that the effect on schools was apparent and should be discussed through questions and debate . It was further suggested that the reports could also highlight the impact on the total funds where a decision was taken on one aspect such as the High Needs block.

9 6 MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 15 June 2021 were considered and agreed as an accurate record. Matters arising from the minutes: Moving on Up fund a response from the Opportunity Area to ascertain whether funding was available for the Moving on Up programme was still awaited (Roger Farley), it was noted that no funds were available therefore it was agreed to close the item. Discussion on SEND budgets to be scheduled for a Schools forum meeting in early 2022 It was noted that there were a number of items relating to SEND support including Early Help which were being reviewed and a more detailed overview would be presented to either the January 2022 or March 2022 Schools forum meeting. Page 3 MINUTES OF SCHOOLS forum MEETING -TUESDAY, 12 OCTOBER 2021 7 REVIEW OF SCHOOLS forum MEMBERSHIP AND CONSTITUTION Hilary Wood, Head of Business Support and Resources presented the report as the Schools forum were required to review the membership each academic year.

10 It was noted that the review should consider the proportion of primary, secondary and academy representatives in order to ensure that the proportions remained representative of pupil numbers in each phase. The Schools forum were asked to agree to the balance of representatives between primary, secondary and academy mainstream schools and agree to the continuation of arrangements in relation to provisions in the Constitution in respect of numbers of representatives from any federation, multi-academy trust or academy sponsor. It was reported that since the membership was last reviewed, there had been no further conversions of maintained schools to academies. It was reported that in October 2014, Schools forum agreed to relax constraints on federations, multi academy trusts and academy sponsors. The constitution now contained provisions to allow federations, multi-academy trusts or academy sponsors representing three or more schools in Blackpool to nominate up to two members of forum .